The Irish Sports Council revealed yesterday that it will be investing €7.4 million in programmes aimed at young people and run through the big three sports of Soccer, Gaelic Games and Rugby.
Given that a total of 770,125 children took part in similar programmes in 2014 that represents a figure per head of €9.71. It is unlikely that there are many areas of government spending that will yield such a long term return given the importance of physical fitness in youth in the prevention of illness and disease in later life.
The political reality is of course that the thank you note from the Department of Health will not necessarily be written for another 30 years, or six electoral cycles.
Extra credit is due then for this investment being prioritised and the three main governing bodies of the GAA, IRFU and FAI being committed to delivery.
The numbers published yesterday suggest the investment is working.
18.5% annual increase in the number of children attending FAI summer soccer schools
9.5% annual increase in those attending Kelloggs GAA Cúl Camps
19% Increase in youth rugby teams over past 8 years
14% increase in youth hurling teams over past 4 years
30% increase in girls participation in teenage rugby over the past 4 years.
The money given to Youth Field Sports is the third largest single area of expenditure for the Sports Council behind the investment in 59 different National Governing Bodies for core funding and the money that goes into High Performance programmes.
All three closely relate to the others and while some sports may bemoan that fact that such a relatively large amount goes to those with the greatest capacity to generate commercial revenues, the fact is they are also the three that can best deliver sport and physical activity to the largest number of young people through their well established networks of schools and clubs.
“This money is essential to fund the initiatives that are getting young people playing sport,” said GAA Director General Paraic Duffy. “Every cent goes into getting kids out on pitches, playing games and having fun.”
“We are building lifetime habits and a love for sport that will stand to them and their families as an essential part of growing up in Ireland.”
Philip Browne of the IRFU focused on success in the Women’s game, referencing the potential hosting of the Women’s World Cup in 2017 as another massive driver of interest. He also revealed that for every €1 invested by Government that the IRFU puts in €3 of their own money raised through television broadcast fees and other commercial streams.
Women were also to the fore in John Delaney’s reflection on the fact that the number of Women registered as players with the FAI has nearly doubled over the past eight years and that this surge was following through in terms of high performance from under age teams in European and at World level.
“The Irish Sports Council shares a common goal with the GAA, IRFU and FAI to increase participation in sport and physical activity,” added Sports Council CEO John Treacy.
“In 2014, the Irish Sports Council supported over 770,000 participants in various programmes across 4,656 clubs.”
“Today’s investment highlights our strategy of encouraging participation across Ireland, from every age group and from all social backgrounds, removing barriers that prevent participation in sport”.
Image Credit: Inpho.ie
